First off, they (being anyone opposed to us, our way of life, our political system, our hair styles, dress, religion, etc.) are going to make wild claims no matter what. Remember, these are the same types who swore there was "torture" Koran-flushing, etc. Come to find out, none of it happened. And no, I don't call the "stress positions" etc. torture. What these guys went through is on the order of slightly over the top fraternity pranks. Anyway, no matter what, there are going to make exaggerated claims.
Second, given the choice of lethal force, or non-lethal but injurious... Don't you think not dying is better? Oh wait, these are the same types that willingly blow themselves up, so maybe not... There is the question of sanity though.
Third, as he states right there, the intent is in fact to injure them, period. Harsh language just isn't going to cut it. These kinds of methods and "weapons" are to be used when the next step is someone's going to get killed. So getting injured? Tough luck.
The hand-wringers would turn this country into a bunch of lilly livered pansies. We send our men and women out acting like Girl Scouts on a cookie drive and there will be no respect, no fear, nothing to stop them or give them pause. I say make them afraid, absolutely terrified of what we can and might do. Far less chance of them starting anything.